Tjoet Njak Meutia is a female warrior from Aceh who has been recognized as a national hero of Indonesia. Similar to other fighters from Tanah Rencong such as Tjoet Njak Dhien, Teuku Umar, Teuku Cik Di Tiro, and other Acehnese warrior figures, Tjoet Njak Meutia is known as a brave figure and has a high fighting spirit and strong determination to get rid of the invaders.
Tjoet Njak Meutia fought against the Dutch with her husband Teuku Muhammad or better known as Teuku Tjik Tunong. They went through a long struggle together, but in the end Teuku Tjik Tunong was arrested by the Dutch in March 1905. Teuku Tjik Tunong was later sentenced to death by the Dutch on the Lhokseumawe beach. Before he died, he advised his best friend Pang Nagroe to marry his wife and take care of their child after he died.
According to her late husband’s message, Tjoet Njak Meutia married Pang Nagroe and then joined forces led by Teuku Muda Gantoe. In a battle against the Marechausée Corps in Paya Cicem, Pang Nagroe died in battle on 26 September 1910 while Tjoet Njak Meutia managed to survive. She and the other survivors then fled into the forest.
After the death of Pang Nagroe, Tjoet Njak Meutia continued to fight against the Dutch with a small army of his followers. They tried to attack and seize colonial posts along their way to Gayo through the wilderness. However, in the battle at Alue Kurieng on October 24, 1910, Tjoet Njak Meutia finally died as a result of a bullet from the Dutch army. For his services, the government awarded Tjoet Njak Meutia the title of National Hero in 1964.
